Baby Miraz back in hospital

One-year- old baby Miraz, who is being held in Gebze Women’s Prison along with her
mother Gülistan Diken Akbaba, has not managed to recover from falling at the threshold of
the cell door and hitting her head on the concrete floor the evening before last. Baby Miraz,
who was sent to the prison supposedly having recovered, was taken back to hospital
yesterday afternoon with a worsening of her vomiting complaint. It has been learnt that Miraz
baby, who is suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, has a high temperature. The link
between her sickness and the fall is being investigated.

Gülistan Diken Akbaba was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment for the
offence of “organisation membership” in 2012. With the sentence upheld by the Court of
Cassation, she was detained and put in Bakırköy Prison along with baby Miraz, then seven
months old. Yesterday, however, Baby Miraz fell at the threshold of the cell door. She was
taken to hospital with swelling on her head and a vomiting complaint. Baby Miraz, having
been kept under observation for 24 hours, was sent back to the prison and given to her
mother. Yesterday afternoon, however, father Cengiz Zaza Akbaba was called by prison
officials and told, “Your wife wants you to take Miraz.” Baby Miraz was collected from the
prison by her father and taken to hospital. Cengiz Akbaba, commenting on his child’s state of
health, said, “Miraz’s blood sugar level has fallen due to vomiting. She is weak. We had her
analyses done. They have currently put her on a drip. They are looking into how she ended up
in this state.”

Akbaba, reporting that Gülistan Akbaba had said, “There is nothing I can do
when Miraz gets sick. I get upset,” commented, “It looks like Miraz will be left motherless
for a while for the duration of her treatment. This is the only option the judicial system in
Turkey can offer Miraz.”